Seahawks, Pete Carroll fined for violating offseason no-contact rules

The Seahawks apparently were a little too physical during a June minicamp, and both team and head coach Pete Carroll will pay the price.

A league source confirmed the news, which was first reported by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. The Seahawks and Carroll were both fined a total reportedly north of $300,000, and Seattle will lose two minicamp practices in 2015, though players will be paid for those workouts.

While the specific nature of the violation was not mentioned in the report, it is believed to have stemmed from a June 18 fight between Richard Sherman and Phil Bates. This is the second time in three years the league has come down on the Seahawks for physical offseason workouts, having also punished the Seahawks in 2012, the first offseason under the new collective bargaining agreement.

A team spokesman said the team will defer to the league for comment.

UPDATE: and now we have a comment from the league:

"The Seahawks will forfeit its first two days of on-field double practices during its 2015 mandatory minicamp for veteran players and will be permitted a single 2 ½-hour on-field practice session on the final day of its minicamp. Seahawks players will be paid for the cancelled practice sessions. The violation was for permitting the club’s players to engage in excessive levels of on-field physical contact during the team’s 2014 mandatory minicamp for veteran players."

Share your comments: Log in using your HeraldNet account or your Facebook, Twitter or Disqus profile. Comments that violate the rules are subject to removal. Please see our terms of use. Please note that you must verify your email address for your comments to appear.